HARTFORD (AP) —  Gov. Ned Lamont and acting Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre S. Gifford said Tuesday they're worried about recent clusters of teens and young people in Connecticut testing positive for COVID-19. They noted how statistics show that 18- to-29-year-olds represent substantial numbers of new cases in Connecticut and elsewhere in recent weeks.

“Connecticut has one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the country right now, but if we are not careful, this can change rapidly,” the Democratic governor warned in a written statement. "We do not want to end up with uncontrolled outbreaks like those being seen across much of the south and western portions of the United States. ... This is not a time to relax our basic practices to slow down the spread of the virus. This is a time for remaining vigilant.”

As of Tuesday, there have been more than 49,000 total cases of COVID-19, an increase of 94 since Monday. To date, 4,423 have died, an increase of five since Monday. The number of hospitalizations is 54, down by five since Monday.

New London County has seen 1,319 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, the state reported Tuesday, nine more than what was reported Monday. Suspected cases remained the same at 63. One more additional death associated with the disease was reported in the county Tuesday, for a total of 77, while suspected associated deaths remained the same at 26. No patients were hospitalized with the disease Tuesday, the same as reported the day before.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Health said it has received anecdotal, unconfirmed information about youth sports teams traveling to states on Connecticut's travel advisory list that have positive test rates higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average.

Lamont and Gifford warned that teams traveling to those states need to cancel their practices and competitions for 14 days after they return to Connecticut and how failure to comply could result in a $1,000 penalty.

On Tuesday, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey announced that travelers from 34 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, must now quarantine for 14 days when they travel into any one of the three states. Illinois, Minnesota, Puerto Rico and D.C. are the latest additions to the list.

Gifford urged young people to consider that as many as 40% of COVID-19 cases can be asymptomatic.

“That means if you go to a party with a crowd and without a mask, even if you are feeling well you can spread COVID to others who may become very ill. They can spread COVID to older or more vulnerable family and friends,” she said in a written statement. “To keep all of Connecticut safe, everyone needs to do their part and stick with the rules.”